Since 1998, DMOZ has been the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web.
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Oct 26th 2009 5:52PM

What do all those editor titles mean?

If you've spent much time here on the blog or over in the public forums at Resource Zone, you've probably seen us mention many different editor titles - meta, admin, staff and editall, for example – but do you know what role each type of editor plays within the directory?

There are two basic types of designations for editor titles. One refers to the breadth of editing permissions, and the other refers to a role in directory management. Each is detailed below.

Breadth of EditingThis group is instrumental in shaping the contents, look and feel of the directory. Editors with this type of permissions make decisions about where things should be placed within the directory. They create new categories, break them apart when they get too big, and move them around as needed. And, of course, they add, update and remove listings from their categories, as needed.

Editor"Editor" is a generic term that refers to anyone who volunteers to work on the DMOZ directory. All of our volunteers have permissions to work in one or more categories as well as all sub-categories under the ones for which they are the named editor.

New editors start with one small category (generally 100 sites or fewer, including all sub-categories). As an editor gains experience, he or she may request permissions to edit in additional categories. These new permissions may be granted by senior-level editors upon review of that editor's current categories.

No matter how many more advanced permissions any volunteer has been granted, he or she always maintains the designation of editor and adheres to the same set of general directory guidelines.

GreenbusterGreenbuster is a special kind of permission granted to editors who wish to expand their editing skills by working in larger areas of the directory than those in which they have full permissions to edit. The name refers to the color of new site suggestions that an editor sees when he or she logs into the editor dashboard. Greenbusters work in this unreviewed pool of suggested sites and help named editors (or other editors in the branch if there is no named editor) to review the suggestions, edit their titles and descriptions (if necessary) and propose inclusion in the category. Greenbusted edits require a final review by an editor with full permissions in that category before they go live to the public.

This has two benefits to the directory: it helps junior-level editors get additional experience in a safe and secure environment, and it helps build out the directory in areas (or languages) where there is either a shortage of editors or an overwhelming number of site suggestions.

CateditallCateditall is the title given to an editor who has permissions to edit and move categories anywhere within a given top-level category (for example, Top/Recreation or World/<Language>/<Topic> for non-English categories). The job of the cateditall is to take a leadership role at the category level to help guide the strategy and provide "big picture" thinking for that level.

EditallEditall is very similar to cateditall, except that the permissions are applied to the directory as a whole as opposed to one category or branch.

At some point, you may have seen reference to editall/catmv. Catmv permissions allow the editor to move whole categories (as opposed to just individual sites) from one part of the directory to another in order to execute on the overall ontology strategy. In many cases, an editor who has editall permissions will also have catmv permissions, but no editor can have catmv permissions without the designation of editall.

Directory ManagementEditors with these types of permissions carry out general management tasks such as processing new applications, granting (and, when necessary, retracting) new categories & permissions, handling abuse reports and project management. They also exhibit strong leadership skills and take a very active role in the directory and forums. CatmodCatmods are managers for specific top-level categories (for example, Top/Arts). They are experts in these areas and they act as primary points of contact for editors who work in their areas. Their catmod permissions include the ability to act in parallel to cateditalls, but they also maintain primary responsibility for directory development in their categories. This includes actions such as driving category strategy, moderating forums and helping to build solid editor ranks through mentorship programs and other methods.

MetaThe primary job of meta editors is community development. They emphasize team work, consensus building & editor accountability, and they play a leading role in efforts to root out editor abuses.

Similar to catmods, metas also maintain all of the permissions held by editall/catmvs.

AdminAt the admin level, editors participate in community governance. They take an active role in communications, both within the editor community where they act as forum moderators and provide community-wide updates via dashboard notes, and with the public through their role as curators of the directory documentation. It is also the responsibility of admins to assign permissions of (cat)editall and meta to editors who have demonstrated excellence in editing and community development.

While many editors at all levels may maintain permissions to edit in both the Classic DMOZ and Kids & Teens directories, only admins are guaranteed to have permissions in both. At other levels, editors are granted permissions in a parallel structure for the Kids & Teens directory, as designated by the "k" prefix in their titles (for example, "kmeta").

There is one additional designation that falls outside these two main groups.

StaffThis refers to employees of AOL, DMOZ's parent company, who work on the DMOZ project. Staff's primary responsibilities include building and maintaining the directory's technical infrastructure and public relations/marketing for the project.

1. Can somoeone please just let me know who I can contact to see if you received a listing submission? I'm not asking for it to be accepted or even reviewed. I just would like to know from one dmoz editor that my entry was received. I'm in a catch-22 situation: if I don't resubmit, I risk waiting longer than I already have for an editor to review. If I do resubmit, I could get banned from dmoz for sending the same listing request twice. Based on this new blog post, it's apparently that dmoz is active and there are some editors still at work. So again, please, have a dmoz official contact me. Thank you.

2. Hey, Jason, it's better to leave all hope. DMOZ is in the deep coma, people are waiting for years to get listed to no avail. All this editors are like bacterias inside the comatose body - they are alive somehow but no one can talk to them, they can't hear you or do something useful. It's first bacterias who can blog though.

5. @Anton: I feel your frustration and it certainly seems warranted. But considering Google still puts a lot of weight behind links from DMOZ (just look at their directory which you can only get in through a DMOZ listing), I have to keep hoping against hope that I end up in there!

6. Jason, you'll have received a message on screen after submitting your site suggestion confirming that it's been received. You won't get any more messages or feedback after that. The Resource Zone forum is filled with countless threads about people suggesting sites and not getting feedback, requesting responses, asking how to get in touch with Editors etc. DMOZ is still very active and many Editors are still doing their thing.

As far as this blog entry is concerned, I recognised the Editor Titles but didn't realise scope of involvement some Editors had. I would imagine it would take some years to gain certain status in the ODP. That's a lot of unpaid work!

8. Is DMOZ dead? DMOZ was inaccessible to editors much of 2009. As of Oct 2009, I can't log in anymore as an editor to process submissions (auto-reply says because I haven't edited in 4 months, but my category online reports I edited only 2 weeks ago), the "editor reinstatement" process link is down (attempts result in a "server error" message), and the staff email box regarding problems is full and unresponsive (maybe because we can't get in as editors and have been emailing). Too bad.

11. Better is you Stop the Fraud in the Dmoz! In the German Poker Kategorie is the Account from Nepumuk sold and with this Account are Links sold ! Thats Great Dmoz now i must Buy an Editor Account to get listed ??? I have write an Abuse mail but no one like do Anything! So i thing the Dmoz Support that Fraud ! GREAT DMOZ!

I have a website/weblog with loads of unique and useful information. I found a good and on topic category on DMOZ and submitted my site to it a couple of times, but it was not approved by the editor. Finally I contacted the editor and asked him about the reason. He said my site is great and suitable for being included in DMOZ but he just mentioned some small problems that had to be resolved. I fixed the problems and resubmitted my site but it had not been approved again. The editor never answered my question and stopped talking to me. I investigated more and I found out that he is using the DMOZ category for his own websites and as my site can be known as his direct competitor he does not want to let me in. I am sure about what I am saying.

My question is how I can report a DMOZ editor who is abusing his chance of being editor and doesn't let the others enter to the same category?

Then, if you think abuse has occurred, use the report abuse/spam link at the category.

To help us investigate your report please include as much relevant information as you can. This may include:

* Affected categories/ editors/ sites. * A description of the alleged abuse. * Proof of editors' affiliations with specific sites. * Copies of e-mails (including full-headers where possible). * Details of any past correspondence you have had with the ODP. * Your e-mail address. This is vital if you want feedback on your report.

15. I can't believe this service 'exists' but yet you can't contact anyone. So many articles say to sign up here, so I did, 6 months ago, for multiple domains and they are still not listed - nor can I check on them - and also face the 'resubmit' issue dilemma. Worst customer service EVER, volunteer or not.

17. @Kathleen Lota - Unfortunately you have misinterpreted how we operate. By suggesting your website you have done all you can. We do not provide any service along the lines you are thinking.

When an editor decides that a particular category needs some attention, they will find any suggestions made waiting for review. Were there to be no suggestions for that category, the editor would carry out a search for sites themselves.

19. As far as this blog entry is concerned, I recognised the Editor Titles but didn't realise scope of involvement some Editors had. I would imagine it would take some years to gain certain status in the ODP.

20. With due respect and thanks for operating this directory to many editors who work tirelessly and without any self interest, may I request if some one can confirm the review for in DMOZ. It has beenn told to me that site submitted only by SEO compnies gets priority listing. Is that true statement? Thanks inn anticipation for your response.